HARARE – Alpha Media Holdings’ head of online and digital Nqaba Matshazi quit on June 30.
Matshazi joined the media house which publishes NewsDay, The Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent as a reporter 10 years ago.
He confirmed his exit to ZimLive Media, amid rumours he is venturing into advocacy work.
“I felt it was time for a new challenge and I left,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Daily News has retrenched about a dozen employees as media organisations struggle to stay afloat.
A Daily News spokesman said three reporters and two sub-editors including news editor Simba Rushwaya were affected by the “staff rationalisation”. Part time staff in the transport division were also let-go.
“The Covid-19 outbreak has brought total carnage to all media companies in general, and revenues have terribly dipped. We have had to carry out a staff rationalisation exercise in order to remain viable,” the spokesman said.
Industry insiders said publishers have been “waiting to see who will go first” with retrenchments, and the fuse was lit when Business Times sent several employees home in May.
The Zimbabwe Newspapers Group and Alpha Media Holdings are also reportedly considering similar moves, although Zimpapers – which delayed paying employees for June – is likely to offer voluntary retrenchment as a first step.
